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The SN (snaking) command sets up multiple columns. Text will wrap on each page from the bottom of each column to the top of the next. While 2 or 3 columns are sufficient for most purposes, up to 12 columns can be defined. The GU (gutters) command is used to set the Other commands used with snaking columns are BC (break column) and SH (snake height).
To set up snaking columns:
| 1 | Place the cursor at the left margin at the beginning of the text you want to snake. Press Enter if necessary so that the text that you want to snake begins at the left margin. |
| 2 | Press F9 to access the action line. |
| 3 | Type sn x,y,z where x,y,z are the locations (in inches, assuming that you have not changed the default measurement units) where the columns of text are created (up to 12 columns can be specified). Examples: |
| • | sn 0,3.25 creates 2 columns of text starting at 0, and 3.25 inches. |
| • | sn 0,2.17,4.33 creates 3 columns of text starting at 0, 2.17 and 4.33 inches. |
| | In both of the above examples the columns will be of equal width (assuming paper width of 8.5 inches and margins of 1 inch on each side). The measurements to achieve this result were calculated by dividing the total text area (6.5 inches after allowing for the margins) by 2 columns or 3 columns. |
| 4 | Press F10 to execute the command. |
To set the gutters:
| 1 | Place the cursor at the beginning of the text where you want to set/change the gutters. |
| 2 | Press F9 to access the action line. |
| 3 | Type GU x,y where x is the space between columns (text to border to text) and y is the space between outside border and the text (i.e., the space between the the left border of the first column and the text or the space between the right border of the last column and the right edge of the space available for text). |
| • | For example, the command GU .2,.1 would set 0.2 inches between columns (text to border to text) and outside gutters of 0.1 inches (border to text). |
| 4 | Press F10 to execute the command. |
To turn off snaking:
| 1 | Place the cursor at the point at which you want to snaking to stop. |
| 2 | Press F9 to access the action line. |
| 4 | Press F10 to execute the command. |
A BC (break column) command is used to force the text that follows to advance to the top of the next column. If you issue this command on the last column of the page, the new column starts on the next page. To insert a column break:
| 1 | Place the cursor at the line above where you want the column to break. |
| 2 | Press F9 to access the action line. |
| 4 | Press F10 to execute the command. |
The SH (snake height) command sets the depth for the snaked columns when you want the columns to be shorter than the standard text length. Generally, Nota Bene uses the top and bottom margin settings when determining column breaks at the end of the page. Sometimes the columnar material may not fill all the columns on the last page. With the SN command, you can create shorter columns that are more evenly balanced.
To set the column height:
| 1 | Place the cursor at the stop within the snaked column where you want to change the column height. |
| 2 | Press F9 to access the action line. |
| 3 | Type sh x where x is the distance (in inches) from the bottom margin of the end of the column(s). |
| 4 | Press F10 to execute the command. |
If you have changed your default units of measurement, measurements will be in the new default units rather than inches. You can specify different units by including the appropriate two letter abbreviation in the command. For example, SN 2cm,5cm,10cm (with a space after SN, then no spaces) creates columns at 2, 5, and 10 centimeters. See Units of Measurement.
See also:
Overview of Columns and Tables
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